Safety and Risk Assessment (DP IB Creativity, Activity, Service): Revision Note

How should students think about safety and risk in CAS?

Understanding risk as an IB learner

• Students are encouraged to be risk-takers

  • This is one of the ten attributes of the IB learner profile

  • Individuals are encouraged to approach uncertainty with forethought and determination

• Being a risk-taker does not mean taking unnecessary risks or placing yourself or others in danger

• The goal is to understand the nature of a risk to in order to mitigate potentially dangerous outcomes

  • Mitigation is the process of reducing the severity or likelihood of a hazard

Hazard identification and mitigation

• Students are expected to identify hazards before starting certain experiences that may be potential sources of harm or adverse health effects

• Specific situations that require a prior risk assessment include:

  • Travel

  • Working alone

  • Using certain types of equipment

• Completing a risk assessment is the process of identifying potential hazards and assessing the level of danger involved

• Assessments must be conducted for solitary creativity experiences—creative tasks done alone—and solitary activity experiences

• For any service project, a clear assessment of potential risks to participants is a mandatory requirement

Responsibilities and collaboration

• Students are expected to discuss their plans with a supervisor

  • The school and supervising adults ensure risk management procedures are followed; students must follow guidance and agreed control measures

• Schools are responsible for safeguarding/child protection; the CAS coordinator helps ensure CAS planning follows school procedures and that concerns are raised appropriately

• Where risks are identified, schools should ensure stakeholders are informed of identified risks and the contingency plans in place

  • These are the alternative actions to be followed if a risk occurs

  • Stakeholders include teachers, parents and the students themselves

Proportionate assessment and legality

• Risk assessment systems should be proportionate to the level of risk

  • This means that the depth of the assessment should match the potential danger of the activity

  • Lower-risk experiences should be quicker and easier to assess than higher-risk experiences

• Schools and students must always comply with local health and safety laws and regulations